The White House said today that President Trump was suffering “mild symptoms” of COVID-19, as the virus that has killed more than 205,000 Americans spread to the highest reaches of the U.S. government just a month before the presidential election.
The revelation came in a Trump tweet about 1 a.m. after he had returned from an afternoon political fundraiser without telling the crowd he had been exposed to an aide with the disease that has infected millions in America and killed more than a million people worldwide.
First lady Melania Trump also tested positive, the president said, and several others in the White House have, too, prompting concern that the White House or even Trump himself might have spread the virus further.
The Trumps’ son Barron, who lives at the White House, tested negative.
Trump has spent much of the year downplaying the threat of the virus, rarely wearing a protective mask and urging states and cities to “reopen” and reduce or eliminate shutdown rules.
Meanwhile, Joe and Jill Biden tested negative for coronavirus.
Biden shared a debate stage with Trump on Tuesday, but the two presidential nominees were instructed not to shake hands and to remain several feet apart from each other.
“I hope this serves as a reminder: wear a mask, keep social distance, and wash your hands,” said Biden.
Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence also tested negative for COVID-19.
“As has been routine for months, Vice President Pence is tested for COVID-19 every day. This morning, Vice President Pence and the Second Lady tested negative for COVID-19,” Pence Press Secretary Devin O’Malley tweeted. “Vice President Pence remains in good health and wishes the Trumps well in their recovery.
Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, announced today he tested positive for Covid-19, just days after meeting in person with Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on Tuesday.
Lee, who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, tweeted today that he took the test Thursday, and would “remain isolated” for 10 days.
He said he has “assured” Senate Republican leaders that he will “be back to work” to join the Judiciary panel to advance Barrett’s nomination to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.
Barrett tested negative for coronavirus today, according to White House spokesperson Judd Deere.
Barrett was diagnosed with coronavirus late this summer but has recovered, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Trump disclosed that he contracted the virus hours before Lee’s announcement.
Lee said he experienced symptoms “consistent with longtime allergies” on Thursday morning and took the test “out of an abundance of caution.”
He said he also took the test “just a few days ago” when he visited the White House for the announcement of Barrett’s nomination.
“Like so many other Utahns, I will now spend part of 2020 working from home,” said Lee in his statement.
An internal memo from the White House Correspondents Association board to reporters says there are “two additional cases of COVID-19 at the White House.”
The memo, obtained by CNN’s Brian Stelter, says members of the media are being notified “so that you can make informed judgements.”
A journalist who was tested “as part of today’s in-house pool” received a preliminary positive result. And a White House staffer who sits in the “lower press” area of the West Wing received a confirmed positive result on Friday morning.
“All other journalists tested today tested negative,” according to the memo.
The correspondents association board said “we can’t stress enough the importance of mask-wearing, social distancing and common sense, especially on the White House complex.”
“Additionally,” the board said, “we are again asking journalists who are not in the pool and do not have an enclosed workspace to refrain from working out of the White House at this time.”
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the correspondents association has taken a more proactive position than the Trump administration and has encouraged journalists to take common sense precautions while covering the administration.
As the Trump campaign postpones its events in light of the president contracting coronavirus, Biden is in Michigan, where the Democratic nominee will deliver a speech on the economy this afternoon.
The Republican donors who attended Trump’s fundraising event in New Jersey yesterday are reportedly panicking following news that Trump has tested positive for coronavirus.
GOP donors have been reaching out to Trump campaign and GOP officials for any guidance following the event, according to a person briefed on the matter.
‘The donors have been texting and calling. Freaking out,’ the person with direct knowledge said. This person declined to be named as the conversations were deemed private.
Trump’s campaign, as of this morning, has not sent out any official guidance to many of the donors involved with the event.
About 30 to 50 donors came close to the president Thursday night, this person added, while noting most of the interaction with Trump took place outdoors.
Many of those contributors who have been able to get in touch with GOP officials have been told to stay home and reach out to their physician for next steps.
New Jersey governor Phil Murphy has instructed those who attended the fundraising event to “take full precautions, including self-quarantining and getting tested.”